withstand

verb

with·​stand with-ˈstand 

wit͟h-

withstood with-ˈstu̇d 

wit͟h-

; withstanding

transitive verb

1

a

: to stand up against : oppose with firm determination

especially : to resist successfully

b

: to be proof against : resist the effect of

withstand the impact of a landing

—Current Biography

2

archaic : to stop or obstruct the course of

Synonyms

• buck
• defy
• fight
• oppose
• repel
• resist

Choose the Right Synonym for withstand

oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something.

oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

Examples of withstand in a Sentence

cookware that can withstand high temperatures

I couldn't withstand the rigors of army life.

They withstood attacks from many critics.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, Hilliard-Knapp says that isn’t always necessary as some wind chimes are specifically designed to withstand winter conditions. —Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2024

Better drainage at the site is expected to help the road better withstand extreme weather, which is what Caltrans said caused the recent slide in the first place. —Kristin J. Bender, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024

This compact water-resistant carrying case withstood some pretty harsh weather, but didn’t suffer any external wear and tear aside from a few grass stains and flecks of mud. —Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024

All large aircraft are designed to withstand lighting strikes without suffering significant damage, Airbus said. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024

However, since stockpots tend to be used for much longer sessions than many other pieces of cookware, their ability to withstand hours of heat on the stovetop—and effectively distribute that heat to all parts of the pot—is even more important. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 11 Apr. 2024

The rivet wine box bag, with its structural nature and sheer amount of storage space, feels tough enough to withstand a long day in L.A. and is lightweight enough to not drag you down. —Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

Editors’ Picks During the Trump presidency, the relationship between the two countries withstood some turbulence as Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister at the time, went to great lengths to court Mr. Trump’s favor. —Motoko Rich, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024

The area rug has received nearly 11,000 perfect ratings from reviewers, with many praising its beauty and ability to withstand heavy foot traffic. —Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English withstandan, from with against + standan to stand

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

withstand

verb

with·​stand with-ˈstand 

wit͟h-

withstood -ˈstu̇d  ; withstanding

: to stand against : resist

especially : to oppose successfully